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I think fatigue has finally set in to those poor Chinese factory workers that work 16 hours a day painting these things.

so you're saying these guys are hand painted?

Im pretty sure all paint apps are hand painted. I dont think they have an assembly belt with robot arms that can be programmed to paint different apps on different figures.

I'm not sure either but you're just assuming. I don't see why they won't have an assembly belt painting figures that are being mass produced. doesn't matter how little you pay factory workers but if paint apps are being painted by hand... it's not cost effective and it'll take forever....

Also look at your figures... you think the paint apps are hand painted?

Honestly I believe all apps are hand painted. Doing things by hand has always been something asian people are very talented at. They are masters at detail. And Chinese labor is dirt cheap. Thats why the Has/Tak factories are in China instead of Japan. But looking at the latest pics above this post, the paint apps are all screwed up on these. Just look at the silver on the left side of Rumble/Frenzy's chest ans the crotch as well...

According to Marvel Comics, which was the publication that both created and started this franchise for Hasbro, Rumble is the red one. Hasbro has even made the original Generation 1 Rumble be the red one. And it was only Sunbow who disregarded this fact - As Frenzy did a lot of rumbling, and they felt that it would confuse the children who watched it.

However, even though Takara chose to go by the names used in both the comic and toyline, it does reflect why they chose to change Optimus Prime's name to "Convoy."

Rated X wrote:If they wanted to go the "toy accurate" route, then Buzzsaw should have come with Soundwave and Lazerbeak should have come with this guy.

Actually, the Japanese version of Buzzsaw was never packaged with Soundwave. It was packaged in the VSZ set, which included Sunstreaker and Skids. Rumble was the one that came packaged with Soundwave (when it comes to the Japanese packaging).

Honestly I believe all apps are hand painted. Doing things by hand has always been something asian people are very talented at. They are masters at detail. And Chinese labor is dirt cheap. Thats why the Has/Tak factories are in China instead of Japan. But looking at the latest pics above this post, the paint apps are all screwed up on these. Just look at the silver on the left side of Rumble/Frenzy's chest ans the crotch as well...

Thanks completely untrue. And way to generalize Asian people. Also Has/Tak's factories are in Vietnam... its not the same...

Rated X wrote:Honestly I believe all apps are hand painted. Doing things by hand has always been something asian people are very talented at. They are masters at detail. And Chinese labor is dirt cheap. Thats why the Has/Tak factories are in China instead of Japan. But looking at the latest pics above this post, the paint apps are all screwed up on these. Just look at the silver on the left side of Rumble/Frenzy's chest ans the crotch as well...

1) All applications are not hand painted. The majority of applications, like faction symbols or decals are applied via tampographs - applied through heat and pressure. If they were paint you would be able to chip it off. Of course there are some times where paint is applied, like in holes or in spots where chipping would likely not occur.

2) Doing things by hand is something that people are good at. Stop being ethnocentric.

3) It's not because Chinese labor is cheap, it's because countries like Japan and South Korea have unions, ethics committee - none of that exists in rural China. Corporations like Hasbro don't want to deal with all of that red tape, so they move to countries (Vietnam and China) where ethics is nonexistent.

4) Whether or not it's by hand or by machine, machines make mistakes too.

CBratetron wrote:Buzzsaw/Laserbeak's head still looks like a camera flips out of the forehead. Has anyone confirmed this?

I marvel at the lack of add-on bits for Laserbeak and Ravage.

yes, a camera does flip out. I can't recall where the picture is but I have seen it.

I am really digging these guys. Strange that they are not showing more of what the pile drivers turn into when not actually pile driving. from the accessory that clips on, I am guessing they are turn into batteries? Can anyone else confirm?

Love the face on Frenzy. Does Rumble have a different face mold? The silver paint on Frenzy's chest is bothering me. Is there a way to fix it, paint it? What is the L2412 reference on Frenzy? Scale wise, I believe both are just slightly smaller than then the originals.

Strange to see that there is only one bio card for the two figures. That's a masterpiece first.

A second set of images of Takara Tomy's MP-16 Frenzy and Buzzsaw have emerged over on ACToys. These images give an even better look at the dastardly Decepticon duo.

Additionally we also have a couple of shots of their instruction sheet from the poster who shared the earlier set of images. It appears the upcoming MP-13 Soundwave will be able to store Frenzy's weapons in alt mode and mount his pile drivers on his arm as a double barreled cannon of sorts.

Lastly we have yet another image from ACToys detailing MP-13 Soundwave's chest compartment where he can store up to three cassettes.

I love how the parts integrate into Soundwave. Next to MP Soundwave, that Lazerbeak/Buzzsaw mould could go down as the best mould of the year, and it's only January. I still say that the head on Frenzy/Rumble are too large and I hope a kit-basher makes replacement heads for them.

The more I see of these little guys, the more impressed I am with them, especially considering that in cassette mode, they're the same size as the original G1 cassettes. I can't imagine more perfect versions of these guys. Bravo Takara engineers, you knocked this one out of the park.

Now PLEASE do the same thing with Ratbat !

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I am that which is, which was, and is yet to come.

And you will know my name is MEGATRON when I lay my vengeance upon you!

MP Soundwave is looking more impressive with each news posting. Very cool how they designed him to work with his minions besides only being able to store multiples (3!?! OMG!) in his chest. Still going to wait for the Hasbro release though.

Kinda' surprised there hasn't been a MP Soundblaster announcement yet.

Honestly I believe all apps are hand painted. Doing things by hand has always been something asian people are very talented at. They are masters at detail. And Chinese labor is dirt cheap. Thats why the Has/Tak factories are in China instead of Japan. But looking at the latest pics above this post, the paint apps are all screwed up on these. Just look at the silver on the left side of Rumble/Frenzy's chest ans the crotch as well...

Thanks completely untrue. And way to generalize Asian people. Also Has/Tak's factories are in Vietnam... its not the same...

First time a compliment has ever been attacked as being "generalizing". I wouldnt be the first person to say Asian people have steady hands when it comes to painting. Im not saying others cant do it, Im just saying people in the asian hemisphere have mastered the craft.

Ive never heard of Tampographs and dont know what they are. But once again, I dont believe there is a machine with robot hands that can be programed to press paint apps on different shapes of plastic. Theyre not that high tech. Im sure these "Tampographs" must be laid on the plastic and centered by hand. Are they like stencils ? And Vient Nam, China, Taiwan, etc, the point is Hasbro wants to pay less. Blurrz had mentioned that they dont want to deal with ethics and it's cost. It makes sense for Hasbro since the figures will be shipped to the western hemisphere. But dont you find it kind of dishonorable that Takara chooses to outsource to a country only a few hundred miles away ? Rich Asians exploiting poor asians ? I know Im touching a very sensitive issue that will trigger some people on this site to go ape s**t. But looking at Frenzys messed up paint apps boggles the mind as to how the process is done and the human aspect behind it.

Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'

Rated X wrote:Ive never heard of Tampographs and dont know what they are. But once again, I dont believe there is a machine with robot hands that can be programed to press paint apps on different shapes of plastic. Theyre not that high tech. Im sure these "Tampographs" must be laid on the plastic and centered by hand. Are they like stencils ?

I know nothing about how Transformer paint apps are applied, but I do know that robots can do this. I don't think it would be that difficult....if the majority of the process is assembly line robots the precision would be pretty incredible. The tampograph machine would simply need to know the coordinates for the tampograph(s). There are some pretty incredible videos out there for precision robotic assembly.

While these are just samples, the poor paint apps - coupled with what we saw out of Sideswipe - doesn't give me much hope. I hate the notion of dropping masterpiece prices and getting knock-off quality paint apps. It definitely needs to be addressed.

Very interesting. But if it's this easy, then that just opens the door for arguments on why Hasbro versions have SOME of the paint apps, but not ALL of the paint apps Takara versions have. I hate that American market vs. Japanese Market argument Hasbro always throws up in convention pannels. Theyre basically saying American kids are savages who destroy their toys and dont deserve the extra 50 cents worth of Tampo ink. Or are they saying Japanese kids dont buy toy robots, only Japanese adult collectors ? Either way, something seems lazy and cheap on Hasbro's part.

Very interesting. But if it's this easy, then that just opens the door for arguments on why Hasbro versions have SOME of the paint apps, but not ALL of the paint apps Takara versions have. I hate that American market vs. Japanese Market argument Hasbro always throws up in convention pannels. Theyre basically saying American kids are savages who destroy their toys and dont deserve the extra 50 cents worth of Tampo ink. Or are they saying Japanese kids dont buy toy robots, only Japanese adult collectors ? Either way, something seems lazy and cheap on Hasbro's part.

It's indeed Japanese vs. American market. Unlike Hasbro, TakaraTomy has to compete rather aggressively with big companies like Bandai. And I mean BIG: Bandai has I think the lion's share in the robot toy figure department and then some, in both the kids' and adult collector's market.